London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1858
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
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| Water Companies. | Total impurities in one gallon. | Organic impurity. |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | Grains 25.36 | 2.40 |
| Lambeth | Grains 18.48 | 1.60 |
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
Sydenham, June 24th, 1858.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 3 | 2 | 5 | _ | 5 | 5 |
| Lewisham | 12 | 7 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| Union Workhouse | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Sydenham | 16 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Penge | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Total | 33 | 19 | 52 | 15 | 15 | 30 |
Gentlemen,
During the five weeks ending upon the 24th of July last, 30 deaths have been
registered.
This number is a little below the average for the same period during the last three
years.
Six deaths have taken place from preventible causes, viz.:—
One typhus fever, Bell Green, Sydenham.
Five malignant sore throat, Penge.
Three of the wards, viz., Blackheath, Lewisham, and Sydenham have been comparatively
free from epidemic disease, and only one death is registered from this cause in the
above-named localities.
Penge is, unfortunately, an exception to the above; malignant sore throat is still prevalent
there, and has destroyed five lives.
I feel bound to remind you that the offensive state of part of this district, that at present
most affected by disease, has been brought under your notice in the months of
January, May, August, September, October, and November, 1856; in February, March,
May, June, July, 1857; and in February and July of the present year.
At Haynes's house, in the yard adjoining the Crooked Billet, closets have been
recently built without notice, and without the necessary water supply.
A privy at the Crooked Billet, close to the house, is in a most offensive state. Two
children (of Haynes's) have died of malignant sore throat; a third, who was attacked by
the disease, has been removed out of the contaminated atmosphere at mv suggestion, and
has recovered.
A remedy is required for this evil at once, both to satisfy the minds of the inhabitants
as well as if possible to stay immediately the progress of disease. I think that material
good might be done immediately by constructing receivers and deodorizing the sewage,
at the same time widening the water courses through which it runs, that it may get
away more rapidly. Any attention or time that I can give to promote this object is at
the service of the Board of Works.
Numerous complaints have been made to me of the state of this part of the district,